Superintendent promises MISD will improve academically

Published 2:30 pm, Thursday, March 22, 2012

Midland Independent School District Superintendent Ryder Warren made a promise Thursday that the district will get better academically, regardless of its facilities.

"It's not often that I promise something, but I will say that we're going to promise to this community is that MISD is going to get better academically," Warren said during a panel discussion at the Chamber of Commerce's State of Education luncheon.

Warren was asked about the need for a $158 million bond election expected in November and said it's up to the community to decide what type of learning environment children deserve.

"The community will have to look at the environment (kids) are in and decide if they could they be in a better place," Warren said.

Through the bond, Warren said teachers would be surrounded "with the best technology and resources we can give in a classroom," elementary school students would be moved from portables to permanent buildings and schools would be reorganized in a way that would "create an environment for kids and teachers to get to academic excellence."

MISD's enrollment continues to increase, causing the district to close all new enrollment at Bonham Elementary and additional enrollment in first and second grades at Scharbauer Elementary. More than 77 elementary classes are taught in portable buildings. The district's newest elementary school -- Greathouse Elementary -- was built in 1993.

Warren said he wants the community to vote on what it wants, and with that, MISD will move forward.

"If it's a no, teachers will still do great things academically," Warren said.

Warren, Midland College President Steve Thomas and Midland Christian School Superintendent Eddie Lee discussed a variety of topics during the forum, including the cost of educating students, campus security and the availability of qualified teachers in the Permian Basin.

Warren discussed his desire to have more local control.

"Parents should be able to have a little more control over our kids and enroll them in the classes they need and make the best choices for them," Warren said. "We know our kids better than those in Austin."

Panelists also discussed classroom technology, which Thomas called the budget's "black hole." Thomas said Midland College does encourage students to use the newest technology available on cellphones and iPads.

Lee said cellphones, laptops and iPads currently are not allowed in the elementary and secondary schools at Midland Christian. As time progresses, Lee said that will change. Midland Christian's board wants to institute a program that gives an iPad to every secondary student and implement them in the classes, he said.

Lee said he feels Midland Christian has quality teachers that offer students a good education.

"We have the best professional staff we've had in the 37 years I've been here," Lee said. "We have lots of good applicants looking for employment each year."

Warren said the biggest problem affecting future teacher recruitment is the lack of affordable housing

"The strength of our faculty and support staff is phenomenal, but I sometimes worry things like housing make us lose talented applicants," Warren said, also noting the district lost 80 teaching positions last year and that he is afraid some quality applicants weren't hired this year because there wasn't a spot open.

Specialized areas such as nursing are the only ones Thomas said MC has a hard time filling.

"Truthfully, we don't have that much of a problem recruiting quality faculty," Thomas said.

In the past few years, Thomas said MC has spent more than $1 million implementing new safety features such as text alerts and security cameras to keep students safe.

Safety is the No. 1 priority for MISD, Warren said.

"Kids can't learn and teachers can't teach unless they feel safe," Warren said. "In Midland, you don't think anything bad is ever going to happen, but you have to have drills and make sure you're prepared for the worst."